Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§1132 Definitions

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS › Part Part D— - General Provisions › § 1132

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part of the law. It lists ten terms and what each means in simple ways. Area studies — a course of study about a region’s history, culture, economy, politics, international ties, and languages. Comprehensive foreign language and area or international studies center — a university unit that does advanced research, has many scholars from different fields, teaches intensive languages for its region, keeps important library collections, and trains undergrad and grad students. Educational programs abroad — study, internships, or service learning outside the United States that are part of college language or international programs. Export education — teaching skills for selling goods and services to other countries, including market, finance, and legal issues. Historically Black college and university — means the same as “part B institution” in section 1061. Institution of higher education — includes schools defined in section 1001 and also foreign schools that meet those rules but are outside the U.S. and apply for aid together with U.S. schools. International business — profit-making business across national borders, like trade, investment, licensing, and services. Internationalization of curricula — putting international perspectives into courses or adding global content to business education. Tribally controlled college or university — means what section 1801 of title 25 says. Undergraduate foreign language and area or international studies center — a college unit that mainly trains undergraduates in languages and area studies, does research and outreach, has qualified faculty and library holdings. References to people or organizations mean U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or groups formed in the United States, unless the context says otherwise.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1132

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)As used in this subchapter—
(1)the term “area studies” means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies, including study of its history, culture, economy, politics, international relations and languages;
(2)the term “comprehensive foreign language and area or international studies center” means an administrative unit of a university that contributes significantly to the national interest in advanced research and scholarship, employs a critical mass of scholars in diverse disciplines related to a geographic concentration, offers intensive language training in languages of its area specialization, maintains important library collections related to the area, and makes training available in language and area studies to a graduate, postgraduate, and undergraduate clientele; and 11 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
(3)the term “educational programs abroad” means programs of study, internships, or service learning outside the United States which are part of a foreign language or other international curriculum at the undergraduate or graduate education levels;
(4)the term “export education” means educating, teaching and training to provide general knowledge and specific skills pertinent to the selling of goods and services to other countries, including knowledge of market conditions, financial arrangements, laws and procedures;
(5)the term “historically Black college and university” has the meaning given the term “part B institution” in section 1061 of this title;
(6)the term “institution of higher education” means, in addition to institutions which meet the definition of section 1001 of this title, institutions which meet the requirements of section 1001 of this title except that (1) they are not located in the United States, and (2) they apply for assistance under this subchapter in consortia with institutions which meet the definition of section 1001 of this title;
(7)the term “international business” means profit-oriented business relationships conducted across national boundaries and includes activities such as the buying and selling of goods, investments in industries, the licensing of processes, patents and trademarks, and the supply of services;
(8)the term “internationalization of curricula” means the incorporation of international or comparative perspectives in existing courses of study or the addition of new components to the curricula to provide an international context for American business education;
(9)the term “tribally controlled college or university” has the meaning given the term in section 1801 of title 25; and
(10)the term “undergraduate foreign language and area or international studies center” means an administrative unit of an institution of higher education, including but not limited to 4-year colleges, that contributes significantly to the national interest through the education and training of students who matriculate into advanced language and area studies programs, professional school programs, or incorporates substantial international and foreign language content into baccalaureate degree programs, engages in research, curriculum development and community outreach activities designed to broaden international and foreign language knowledge, employs faculty with strong language, area, and international studies credentials, maintains library holdings, including basic reference works, journals, and works in translation, and makes training available predominantly to undergraduate students.
(b)All references to individuals or organizations, unless the context otherwise requires, mean individuals who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or organizations which are organized or incorporated in the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1132, Pub. L. 89–329, title VI, § 622, as added Pub. L. 96–374, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1470; amended Pub. L. 99–498, title VI, § 614, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1520, defined terms used in this subchapter, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–325. Another prior section 1132, Pub. L. 89–329, title VI, § 622, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1266, related to stipends for persons attending faculty development program institutes, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by Pub. L. 96–374.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–39 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 110–315, § 621. See 2008 Amendment notes below. 2008—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), (3), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (5) as (2) and substituted “comprehensive foreign language and area or international studies center” for “comprehensive language and area center”. Former par. (2) redesignated (7). Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), (4), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (9) as (3) and substituted semicolon for period at end. Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (3) as (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (8). Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(5), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, added par. (5). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (5) as (2). Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), (6), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (8) as (6) and struck out “and” after semicolon. Former par. (6) redesignated (10). Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(1), (2), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (2) as (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: “the term ‘critical languages’ means each of the languages contained in the list of critical languages designated by the Secretary pursuant to section 212(d) of the Education for Economic Security Act (50 Fed. Reg. 149, 31413), except that, in the implementation of this definition, the Secretary may set priorities according to the purposes of this subchapter;”. Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (4) as (8). Former par. (8) redesignated (6). Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(7), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, added par. (9). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (9) as (3). Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 110–315, § 621(2), (8), as amended by Pub. L. 111–39, redesignated par. (6) as (10) and substituted “undergraduate foreign language and area or international studies center” for “undergraduate language and area center” and a period for the semicolon at end. 1998—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 105–244, § 102(b)(8), substituted “section 1001” for “section 1141(a)” in two places and “of section 1001” for “of 1141(a)”. Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 105–244, § 604(a), added par. (9).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date

Part effective Oct. 1, 1992, see section 2 of Pub. L. 102–325, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1992 Amendment note under section 1001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1132

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73